With the jars and catchers report less than a month away, the hot stove is hot. This week, JT Realmuto and Marcus Semien found homes, while Nolan Arenado was reportedly on the verge of being negotiated with the Cardinals on Friday night. Who else can sign in the next few days? Here are the latest rumors of the hot stove.
Twins keep talking to Cruz
Nelson Cruz is coming out of a tremendous two-year season with the Twins, during which he scored 57 goals in 173 games and made 168 OPS +. Although the two sides have not yet reached agreement on a new agreement, the door remains open.
Twins executive vice president Derek Falvey said during the club’s virtual fan festival on Saturday that Minnesota remains in contact with Cruz. In fact, Falvey said the conversations “remain active and productive”, by Betsy Helfand of Pioneer Press.
The lack of a universal DH seems to limit Cruz’s free agent options and point to an eventual return to the Twin Cities.
White Sox brings Rodon back
At the beginning of the off-season, left-hander Carlos Rodon of the White Sox did not previously grant choice no. 3 in the 2014 draft. according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network.
Rodon, 28, has been limited by Tommy John’s surgery to 42 entries in the past two seasons. Before that, he was an effective, if somewhat inconsistent, type of average rotation. From 2015-18, he accumulated 494 entries and 102 ERA +.
Astros GM James Click was on the Rays board when Tampa Bay left Trea Turner and Joe Ross for Nationals for outfielder Steven Souza Jr. The deal didn’t work out, but Click still seems to have a weakness for Souza: on No Saturday, the Astros signed a contract with him, by Jon Morosi of the MLB Network.
Souza, 32 years old in April, has not had an effective season in the major league since 2017. In the following years, he achieved 77 OPS + in 303 plate games, having lost significant time due to injuries. Last season, Souza appeared in just 11 games for the Cubs before being expelled from the city. He hit four out of 27 with 15 eliminations against a home run and four walks.
Souza should have a chance to secure a part-time job at Astros. Houston lost George Springer to the free agency, but kept Michael Brantley. Brantley and Kyle Tucker are left-handed hitter, unlike the mighty Souza.
Edwards Jr. ink braves
Braves made a notable addition to the secondary league on Friday, marking the right-handed Carl Edwards Jr., according to several reports (Jon Becker was the first with the news)
Edwards Jr., 29, already seemed poised to be a long-term high-leverage option for the Cubs. From 2016-18, he averaged 56 appearances and maintained an ERA + index of 141 and 2.54 crossed out for walking.
Edwards Jr. had a brutal 2019 and missed most of 2020 because of a tense forearm. The Braves will try to help you get back into shape.